fathom

Another shooting exhibition by Avi Mirotic.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 02:50 AM) The Marlins were briefly speculated a few days ago but it died rather quick but Seattle, that would be a new one. I wonder what their finances are looking like? Gonna go investigate that real quick like. Probably not a threat, but they have the Roc Nation connection

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 23, 2016 -> 02:38 AM) there are more than just the mets and nats in on cespedes. #mystry teams https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/690724259589701632 Must not have liked what Mets offered. My guess is the Marlins or Mariners are next rumored team.

Given how the last month has gone, we will surely see a tweet soon by Nightengale saying Sox won't give up draft pick to sign FA.

If JR's plan is to sell the team in a few years, it would be a colossal mistake to have the team tank and minimize the payroll. I asked about this on the board the other day, and it seems like with a new TV deal coming up, having rock bottom ratings would hurt how valuable the franchise is more than having 20-30 million more in payroll.

At this point, I'm just surprised Cespedes isn't deciding on live television with a Mets, Yankees, White Sox, Orioles and Nationals hat on the table

So is the belief that this would only be a 1-year deal? I'd much rather see it be a 2-3 year deal.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 09:21 PM) Inciarte would then cause you to be giving away potential HRs in an outfield slot, that wouldve been provided by a different OF in his place which we cant afford. His defense and speed would make up for the power...which would be coming from the infield anyways

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 09:14 PM) For the OF, obviously? All around the infield I guess

I forgot to include the Astros as a team that's been linked to Desmond

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:03 PM) If Mets do get Cespedes, could make Conforto expendable and they need a SS of the future. Conforto can't play RF though

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 09:00 PM) What OF fits that bill? Ender Inciarte? Starling Marte? Gregory Polonco? Joc Pederson? Michael Conforto? George Springer? Preston Tucker? Corey Dickerson? Nice list...probably not going to get Inciarte, Marte, Polanco, Conforto or Springer for him. Dickerson is the obviously candidate. I would absolutely love an Anderson/Danish for Inciarte trade though.

I'm sure I'll get roasted for this, but what about signing Desmond and then trading Anderson for a cost-controlled outfielder? I like Anderson, but he's far from a lock to be a quality MLB player.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 08:19 PM) Ahmed is a wizard and they're more concerned with 2B. If they get a 2B, they'll have Ahmed at SS and Owings backing up both positions. Yep, they'll probably end up with Kendrick

Teams linked to Desmond have been the Giants, Cardinals, Twins...but nothing serious at all

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:49 PM) Seems like the Sox are really positioning themselves to beat positional averages. There were three middle infielders in all the AL that hit 20 HRs or more in 2015. If the Sox got 40 from Desmond/Lawrie (very possible if both stay healthy) they would likely have the most thunderous middle infield in the AL. You're looking at 100 homers from the infield possibly

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:40 PM) If they signed him, everyone would say "same old White Sox" but they'd be buying low for once instead of buying high. Desmond has an ugly downward trend and was terrible at the plate last year but he's still averaged 3.8 WAR over the last four years. His defense has gotten better annually. For comparison, Adam Eaton had 3.6 WAR last year. This is a player who was offered 100+ million dollar contract and was talked about as the best shortstop in the NL within the last year. I don't love his prospects but there's plenty reason for some optimism. Two things I have heard a lot about Desmond: - he really struggled last year as he put a ton of pressure on himself to earn a new contract after turning down $107 million - the cluster that was the Nats clubhouse hurt him and others, as many players on the Nats put up shockingly low WAR numbers in comparison to the career averages

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:27 PM) Again, a gross oversimplification of things. I wouldn't think that Hahn would need to add the obvious caveat of "without destroying the future" to the end of that, but apparently for some he does. If it was just about today, guys like Anderson and Fulmer would have already been dealt for upgrades, and they would have already signed a FA that requires draft pick compensation. 2019 and 2020 might not matter for you, but in a market where fan response is about as warm as Lake Michigan, mistakes get amplified. Having $20+ million in dead payroll would be a huge blow to the ballclub in those years that the fans won't tolerate. I can already see the handwringing going on full of hindsight and simplification. And if Cespedes turns into a bust, it just seems like he might not be the best clubhouse contributor.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 07:38 PM) Dan O'Dowd really loves Desmond. He thought he would be the biggest value free agent signed this winter. He absolutely will be. Cespedes has .2 more fWAR than him over the last 4 years.

From 2012-2015, Desmond was far and away the best SS in baseball in terms of fWAR despite a horrid 2015.

I like Desmond, think he's a better long-term player than Cespedes...but I'm not sure of the fit with this current roster and Anderson lurking. If they do sign him, I wouldn't mind a high prospect for high prospect swap of Anderson for an outfielder.

Gallardo also costs a pick

BTW, I wonder if the plan all along when they were going after Cespedes was to put him in LF, and move Melky to DH while keeping Avi in RF?

I love this tweet: keithlawVerified account ‏@keithlaw 3h3 hours ago Cespedes should demand opt-outs after every week of the contract, just to see if the Mets will say yes

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 22, 2016 -> 05:53 PM) Avisail Garcia, Don Cooper, Hawk, Ed Farmer, Ron Kittle, Harold Baines comprise phone sales team for #whitesox season tix customers Thurs. https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/690577060436271104 I'm sure alot of fans want to hear avi calling them asking them to get season tickets lol Wow, that's just dumb by the org